(PHOTO PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
HAM RADIO … Ham radio operator Mike Kwiatkowski of Bryan makes a contact for the Williams County Amateur Radio Assn. during the 17th annual Ohio State Parks On The Air contest. The local radio group set up a station at Bryan’s Moore Park on Saturday, Sept. 7, and contacted other stations located at a number of the 75 Ohio State Parks.
Ham radio operators of the Williams County Amateur Radio Association took to the great outdoors on Saturday, Sept. 7, for the 17th annual Ohio State Parks On The Air contest.
Radio clubs across the state set up stations at many of the 75 Ohio State Parks and contacted each other throughout the day.
The contest gives the ham operators experience in setting up portable stations to operate just as they may be called to do in emergency situations while at the same time promoting Ohio’s beautiful state parks system.
Stan DeGroff, president of the Williams County radio group, said, Stan DeGroff, president of the Williams County radio group, said, “We set up a station at Moore Park in Bryan, and operated using the gazebos in the park.”
“It’s not a state park, but we were able to participate in a contest category that allowed us to operate there. It’s a beautiful setting and we enjoyed seeing people walk by or playing disc golf in the park while we were contacting stations all around Ohio.”
“We really appreciate the support we received from the Bryan Parks and Recreation Department to make this happen.”
“This contest is especially important to us because it gives some of our newer members valuable experience in using the radios and makes them more familiar with making contacts. It really helps people become more comfortable with radio operation,” he continued.
DeGroff said every time they participate in events such as this, they also learn how to make improvements in how to best set up and operate for future operations.